The Golden Book History of the United States - Complete Set (12 Volumes –Hardcovers no Dust Jackets 1963 Edition)

• Author: Earl Schenck Miers (1910-1972)

• Paintings by: Alton S. Tobey (1914-2005)

• Drawings by: Richard P. Kluga

• Art Research: Herbert J. Sanborn (1907-1996)

• Publisher: Golden Press New York, NY U.S.A. 1963

This history of the United States gives a clear and simple description of historic events enhanced by full color illustrations to develop an emotional understanding of history. This brings history alive and helps the reader better relate to why the actions were taken. Each volume has a fold-out (FO) full color print of a painting or historic document suitable for framing (13.375” x 10.125”).

Earl Schenck Miers (1910–1972) was an American historian. He wrote over 100 books, some of them were intended for children. Alton Stanley Tobey (1914-2005) was an American painter, historical artist, muralist, portraitist, illustrator and art instructor. Herbert James Sanborn (1907-1996) was known as an educator who produced lithography with easel and mural paintings.

The 12 volume set has two parts. The 1st ten volumes cover the historical events separated into time periods, while volumes 11 &12 have short biographies of more than 500 famous Americans.

Although you could read the set from beginning to end, the material is grouped into sections (generally less than 10 pages in length) on a single topic described in a table of contents for each volume as well as in an overall index given in volume 10. Each volume covers a particular span of time starting with Viking exploration of North America beginning around 1000AD up to the early space exploration of the 1960s.

These books were accumulated into a set so each volume may have had different prior owners from the other volumes in this set. The advantage of this is a more uniform quality and higher overall condition for the set. Specifics for each volume:

- Volume 1, The Explorers from 986-1701, FO + 91pp + preview Vol 2, Rear endpages maps of voyages. Begins with the first Viking voyages and ends with the colonies growing in the New World. FO is print of painting: Columbus Lands in the New World – 1492. Condition: Cover shows minor shelf-wear, corners worn through but stabilized with tape. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Very Good plus.

- Volume 2, The Indian Wars from 1675-1774, FO + 2pp Dates & Events + pages 92 thru 181 + preview Vol 3, Rear endpages maps of colonies and campaigns. Covers the period from King Philip’s War to the Boston Tea Party. FO is print of painting: Ambush of British Column in French & Indian War - 1753. Condition: Cover shows little shelf-wear, corners worn through but stabilized with tape. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Very Good plus.

- Volume 3, The Age of Revolution from 1774-1783, FO + pages 182 thru 271 + 1 page preview Vol 4, rear endpages maps of Revolutionary War campaigns. Covers the Revolutionary War from Paul Revere’s ride to Washington’s victory and farewell. FO is facsimile of document: The Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776. Condition: Cover shows little shelf-wear, corners worn through but stabilized with tape. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Very Good plus.

- Volume 4, Building the Nation from 1783-1850, FO + pages 272 thru 361 + 1 page preview of Vol 5, rear endpages maps of US development during era. Begins with the Constitution and ends with pioneers going west on the Oregon Trail. FO is print of the painting: Delegates Debate at Constitutional Convention - 1787. Condition: Cover shows little shelf-wear, bottom corners worn through but stabilized with tape. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Very Good plus.

- Volume 5, The Civil War from 1850-1865, FO + pages 362 thru 451 + 1 page preview of Vol 6, rear endpages map of Major Battles of the Civil War. Begins with John Brown’s raids to the assassination of President Lincoln. FO is print of the painting: Abraham Lincoln Speaks at Gettysburg - 1863. Condition: Cover shows little shelf-wear, corners sharp and square. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Near Fine (As New).

- Volume 6, Winning The West from 1865-1907, FO + pages 452 thru 541 + 1 page preview of Vol 7, rear endpages map of completion of Transcontinental Railroad. Begins with Lincoln’s funeral and ends as Oklahoma becomes our 46th state. FO is print of the painting: Homesteaders Begin The Oklahoma Land Rush - 1889. Condition: Cover shows little shelf-wear, corners sharp and square, but spine ends bumped. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Near Fine (As New).

- Volume 7, The Age of Steel from 1889-1917, FO + pages 542 thru 631 + 1 page preview of Vol 8, rear endpages maps of Europe-1914, Pacific 1898-1901, Battle of Manila Bay – 1898, and Battle of San Juan Hill - 1898. Covers Spanish-American War through the events that led the US into World War I. FO is print of the painting: The Wright Brothers’ Plane Flies at Kitty Hawk - 1903. Condition: Light edge wear on rear facing spine, else as new. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Fine (As New).

- Volume 8, Becoming a World Power from 1917-1940, FO + pages 632 thru 721 + 1 page preview of Vol 9, rear endpages map of Europe-1940. Covers the Allied victory in World War I through the start of World War II. FO is print of the painting: Inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as 32nd President – March 4, 1933. Condition: Tear in rear facing foot of spine, stabilized with tape. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Near Fine (As New).

- Volume 9, Second World War from 1940-1945, FO + pages 722 thru 811 + 1 page preview of Vol 10, rear endpages maps World -1941 to 1945. Covers the period from Pearl Harbor to the birth of the United Nations. FO is print of the painting: U.S. Forces Join Allied Invasion of North Africa - 1942. Condition: No flaws with exterior. Vibrant colors. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Fine (As New).

- Volume 10, Age of The Atom from 1945----, FO + pages 812 thru 902 + 1 page preview of Vol 11, rear endpages maps Southeast Asia, The Congo, The War in Korea, and The United States Today (50 States). Covers the present 91963) – when atomic energy and rocketry thrust mankind to the borders of unknown worlds. FO is facsimile of the document: Preamble to the Charter of The United Nations. Index for the first 10 volumes included. Condition: Cover shows minor edge-wear. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Near Fine (As New).

- Volume 11, Famous Americans From A to L, FO + pages 1 thru 92 + 1 page preview of Vol 12. Volume 11 contains the first half of more than 500 biographies of Americans who rose to fame before 1963. FO is the print of two paintings: Thomas Jefferson, and; Benjamin Franklin. Condition: Cover shows edge-wear, head of spine taped to prevent tear from developing. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Near Fine (As New).

- Volume 12, Famous Americans From M to Z, FO + pages 93 thru 182 + 1 page illustration credits for Vol 11&12. Volume 12 contains the last half of more than 500 biographies of Americans who rose to fame before 1963. FO is print of the painting: Mt. Rushmore National Monument, South Dakota, by Gutzon Borglum. Condition: Cover shows edge-wear. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Book minimally read. Near Fine (As New).

These hardcovers were designed and produced to resemble each other as a set. Front end-pages have quotes from all four (living in 1963) presidents’ speeches regarding importance of history. Patterns and designs on covers are the same, but each volume has a unique full color illustration spanning rear to front covers. All volumes reinforced to present square corners and untorn exteriors. None have torn gutters or missing pages. Selected from privately owned sets.

• Size: 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall, 1,109pp.

• Condition: Very Good, complete, 12 volume Hardcover Set, no DJs – Accumulated from privately owned sets.

Copyright 1963. No Edition/print-run info found. Printed in U.S.A. No ISBN, CIP, nor MSR. LCCN: 63-9433.